What software do you find useful on your HTPC

ginjaninja said:
Are people still watching live content? i thought that had gone the way of the dodo.:)
Click to expand...
25 million registered TV licences for 09/10 + the last 35 htpc's I built for work wanted hdtv/sat tuners in them. Hardly 'gone the way of the dodo'.


I use the following:

mpc-hc with tweaked madVR output for all video
w7 media centre for tv tuners
anydvd hd
powerdvd 11

I've tried XBMC over and over. I just can't get along with it and that's if the database hasn't duped/corrupted/half downloaded meta data on its own. I find it far easier to just organise stuff properly as I aquire it and pull it over the network share.

Windows is installed on my 'old' x-25m ssd. Boots extremely quickly and loads the server share list window on startup. Select film and enjoy. :)
 
lay-z-boy said:
I find it far easier to just organise stuff properly as I aquire it and pull it over the network share.
Click to expand...

very Spartan!

whilst this is possibly the best way to launch some known media asap.
Portals like media browser, can be navigated by your mum, look pretty and support other functionality like, choosing film by genre, or finding that episode about xyz or finding the other films by director d or that actor a has been in.

I would maintain that whilst these portals (like media browser) are not critical they do add something to the overall experience.
 
I am shocked at people saying they cannot get on with XBMC. There are so many skins out there to make it look how you want it, so many add ones etc. To be it is a perfect form of software to use your media.

I know each to there own. I just find it spot on.

Especially add on's like icefilms
 
Magic_x_uk said:
I am shocked at people saying they cannot get on with XBMC. There are so many skins out there to make it look how you want it, so many add ones etc. To be it is a perfect form of software to use your media.

I know each to there own. I just find it spot on.

Especially add on's like icefilms
Click to expand...

I tried it, however, I didn't find it integrated into MCE as well as Mediabrowser. Yes it was faster than MB, but from my experience was also standalone, where as MB isn't.

Ohhh and I also use;

MediaMonkey
Media Center Master (used to use MediaScout, however, MCM is far superior, especially the licensed version)
 
I mainly use nevermisstv to catch up on the fta channels. It's an old P4 system built from spare parts in my loft. Does the job perfect with the imon remote. I also have boxee and xbmc installed but don't use them at the moment.
 
I am another who couldnt get on with XBMC at all.

I have on mine:

WMC7
Mediabrowser (pearl Theme)
MPC-HD

So easy to use, even my 5 year old son quite happily navigates his way around it to find what he wants to watch.
 
Mediabrowser - Never tried XBMC and I'm happy with what I have at the moment
Media Centre Master
Sickbeard
Sabnzbd

The pc is always on so it takes 1 minute to watch what I want.
 
Windows 7 64-bit
Shark007 codecs
Windows Media Center
MediaBrowser
TunerFreeMCE


Server runs an old version of MetaBrowser for automatically downloading details of films/tv stuff that I place into the shared folders on the server.
 
A couple of questions guys:

- Do most people run XBMC as a Win7 overlay, or standalone / Linux?

- If the latter, is it still possible to play Windows games like Left 4 Dead split screen and if so, what's required?
 
I installed XBMC but, if im honest i cant see how having it is any easier than just having shortcuts to media on my desktop. Maybe im missing the point.
 
CS||nuTs said:
I installed XBMC but, if im honest i cant see how having it is any easier than just having shortcuts to media on my desktop. Maybe im missing the point.
Click to expand...

I think it is because it looks good. Easy to navigate and you can customize it to how you want.

Easy to use views. To see all your films, music, information about that.

A lot easier to search as well if you have 300+ films.

Just finishes off a HTPC well I think.
 
Magic_x_uk said:
I think it is because it looks good. Easy to navigate and you can customize it to how you want.

Easy to use views. To see all your films, music, information about that.

A lot easier to search as well if you have 300+ films.

Just finishes off a HTPC well I think.
Click to expand...

I will stick with it as im sure i will find it more useful as i navigate my way through how it works and what it can do. Just a shame that i cant integrate my TV card into it.
 
CS||nuTs said:
I will stick with it as im sure i will find it more useful as i navigate my way through how it works and what it can do. Just a shame that i cant integrate my TV card into it.
Click to expand...

I would have thought that intergrating your tv card would be no problem.

Have a look on http://forum.xbmc.org/ see if there is something there that can help you.

Also have you looked at different skins for it yet? I use Neon, love it, find it very simple and nice looking.

As for your tv card. I cannot understand why it won't be able to be used as there is a 'TV Guide' within XBMC so should utilize that.
 
Will take a look at it over the weekend, i must admit having everything accessible from one place is a nice prospect.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom